Historical multihulls

Look what I found !

One of these is currently for sale, whats interesting though is some of the Herreshoff catamaran pictures in the intro.
Enjoy,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_8BQVSKheQ

 

Now this is a really impressive historical multihull; Eric Tabarly fast sailing the first Hydroptere model with Tornado main hull, over square beam and angled foils - this way back in the late 1970's. This from the Alain Thebault book on Hydroptere history

 

What a wonderful thread. Merci beau-coup!

 

Gary : Is there any information available on the performance that this boat achieved?

 

Herreshoff cats

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Way to go red-some of the best Herreshoff cat pictures I've seen-thanks!

 

That is such a cool photo.

 

Yes that Herreshoff stuff was really good. I had forgotten that he entered a cat in the Americas Cup and how they banned multihulls after that.

 

Gary,

would you have the title of the book?

I suppose it is in French

 

Upchurchmr and Doug H, the book is: "Alain Thebault, Pilote d'un Reve."
And the site to go to - to overdose on foils and history is Fred Monsonnec's: http://foils.wordpress.com/
The original Paul Ricard/Hydroptere/Tornado flyer prototype was launched in 1975. We really haven't come that far since then?
There was a second version, slightly longer, that Thebault sailed before building big Hydroptere.
Haven't got any performance figures for the breakthrough proto ... but looking at the amazing photograph ... you know it did the job. Fred's large site has all the information and there is a section on the recent restoration and display setup of the foiler.

 

Gary,

Thanks very much.

 

Those clever Danes - check out C Class Dulcinea 1970.
Voiles et Voiliers for the complete article - en Francais though

 

C'est bon et tres intrigant! Merci, encore!

 

Where's the link to the Voiles et Voiliers article GB???

Looks a bit heavy, and overkill with strips over the top of foam over ply rib....??

These days wouldn't you make a hot wire knife carefully pre-curved to the foil shape, and simply cut front and rear halves from styro blocks,, glue blocks together then carbon and light glass over the top?

If you need a core void for wiring, simply router it out of the central longitudinal face, half round from each foam 'half' providing a 'tube' the full height.

That would work if the aerofoil was constant but might be trickier if it thinned as it went upwards, but frankly, that defeats the purpose I reckon.

More wind the higher you go, apparently, so that's where you need resistance.

Can't figure out why nobody's copied/improved on the old Polynesian idea of the upside down sail.

OK, go ahead. Show me where..... lol

 

I like the way you think...I just wish hot wiring foam was easier...and, aside from soft wing sails, I praise the compromise sail of the Malibu Outrigger's semi crab-claw. Ya perked me right up, matie.

 

Thanks for the great info Gary. Long time ago I got a ride on a French C Class but she certainly did not have a wing mast! Circa 1970 too, near La Rochelle.
Only Tornados' I've sailed and raced had two hulls somewhat similar.....

Cracking shot of the early Hydroptere.